ACCIDENT and emergency patients arriving at Colchester Hospital were warned they faced a FIVE hour wait to see a doctor.

The unprecedented spring time surge on Tuesday saw 297 people attend.

While A&E departments can expect to be busy during the winter when illness and slips, trips and falls peak, it is unusual to be busy during a springtime week day, especially one which does not follow a bank holiday.

Neill Moloney, the hospital trust’s managing director and deputy chief executive, said: “The nature of the emergency department is that it’s completely unpredictable.

“Tuesday was one of those days when demand was high, with 297 people needing our care. At times of increased activity we put contingency plans into action, including a focus on our most sick patients.”

Nationally patients arriving at A&E departments should be seen, treated, and admitted or discharged within four hours.

Hospital trusts failing to meet this standard, which should apply to 95 per cent of patients, can be fined.

Back in January, 298 patients attended the department on one of the busiest days and 38 ambulances arrived in just eight hours.

Mr Moloney said keeping patients safe and treating them as quickly as possible was the department’s top priority.

“At times of high pressure we make sure we see patients with the highest clinical need first, and we are sorry this meant that some others had to wait longer than usual. We thank everyone who had to wait for their patience and understanding.”

A sign on an A-board outside the department on Tuesday warned patients it was experiencing “ unprecedented demand” and patients might have to wait five hours to see a doctor.

They were urged, if possible, to visit the neighbouring walk-in centre which can treat minor injuries and illnesses.

The trust was on Opel 2 alert yesterday - a term to describe pressure levels on a four-point scale and means it is starting to show signs of pressure.

Opel levels 3 and 4 correspond more closely to the old terms such as ‘black alert’ or ‘major incident’.